RPF inspector demoted over corruption charges

The following example is sure to serve as a stern warning for erring or corrupt Railway Police Force (RPF) officials. Inspector Juber Pathan, attached with RPF Kalyan, was demoted to the post of a sub-inspector after he was found guilty of corruption. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Anil Sharma issued Pathan’s demotion order yesterday. “We took departmental action against Pathan,” said an RPF official.

Kalyan railway station. File pic

Several allegations were levelled against Pathan, including taking hafta from hawkers for allowing them to operate at Kalyan railway station. MiD DAY had published a report (No RPF ‘hawk eye’ at Kalyan station’, January 13, 2012) highlighting the hawkers’ menace at and outside Kalyan station.

Recently, a blind man had come under a local train at Kalyan station but the on-duty RPF officers were accused of failing to rush him to the hospital. Several commuters, including an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member, Satyajeet Burman, rushed the injured to the nearest hospital. In this case as well, Pathan was accused of exhibiting irresponsible behaviour.

Some six months ago, a few social workers and an RPF constable conducted a surprise check on Kalyan railway station and discovered that vegetable vendors were operating on the platform, inconveniencing commuters greatly. The team shot a video of the vendors and submitted it to the RPF department. An inquiry into the matter revealed Pathan allegedly took hafta from the vendors to let them sit on the platform.